The Vice President, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang has stressed the need for individuals and communities who suffer the consequences of drug addiction not to be neglected because addressing substance use disorders requires compassion.
She was speaking to mark International Day of Drug abuse and trafficking in Accra on the theme, “The Evidence is Clear: Invest in Prevention.”
There are concerns about the increasing cases of drug abuse among young people, with the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) citing it as a public health and national security threat if the situation is left unchecked.
Director-General of the Commission, Brigadier General Maxwell Obuba Mantey cautioned that Ghana is not a safe haven for drug trafficking calling for change in strategy and prevention instead.
‘’Prevention is a key strategy…to break the cycle of illicit trade,” he noted.
He stressed the need for a collective action to address the issue in order to safeguard the future of the youth.
The Vice President, Professor Naana Jane Opoku Agyemang, said Ghana has made significant gains in the fight against conventional narcotic drugs such as cocaine, heroin and cannabis through demand and supply reduction interventions.
However, drug trafficking and organized crime syndicates have shifted to include synthetic opioids, and Ghana can therefore not be passive in its approach, noting practical and preventive solutions are being invested on to address the root causes of drug abuse.
“We cannot be passive in our approach. Ghana is investing in practical, preventative solutions to address the root causes of drug abuse. Permit me, therefore, to commend the Narcotics Control Commission for their dedication. Their recent operations, both independent and with international partners, have resulted in the seizure of large volumes of illicit substances and dismantled criminal syndicates within Ghana, across West Africa, and in Europe. The destruction of over sixteen metric tons of seized narcotic drugs on 20th June 2025, is proof that we are active in this fight. Every gram destroyed is a life potentially saved,” she said.
She emphasised the need not to neglect individuals and communities who suffer the consequences of addiction, noting, substance use disorders requires compassion.
“That is why the directive from the Honourable Minister for Interior to operationalize the Substance Use Disorder Rehabilitation Fund, as provided in the Narcotics Control Commission Act, 2020, is a commendable move.
“We must also be mindful of the broader implications of this problem. For instance, the 2024 World Drug Report indicates that drug traffickers are diversifying into other illegal economies, notably wildlife trafficking, fraud, and illegal resource extraction. Vulnerable communities are made to suffer and are sometimes forced to turn to illicit activities to survive. These activities are also contributing to deforestation, the dumping of toxic waste, and chemical contamination,” the Vice President noted.
